Mr. Brown's Weekly Update:

December 2, 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians,  

It’s hard to believe that we’ve already completed two months of school.  This first trimester is truly flying by.   Thank you for supporting our students as they continue adjusting to their new teachers, classmates, and established school expectations.  

 School Highlights

  • Check out our students of the week just to the right of this post.  We are so proud of them for being SAFE, RESPECTFUL, and RESPONSIBLE! 
  • Attendance Matters:  Check out the statistics on the graphic below as reported by Attendance Works.  It shows that regular attendance is a predictor of a student’s ability to proficiently read after 3rd grade.  

 
A screenshot of a testDescription automatically generated

  • As a part of our study of the 6Cs, we will be studying CREATIVITY through the month of December.  All classroom teachers will provide a shared reading experience using Sky Color, by Peter Reynolds.
  • Please be sure your child is coming to school dressed for outdoor recess.  Jackets, gloves, and hats are highly recommended.   Thank you!  
  • CCSD’s new free breakfast and lunch program for all students began on December 1.   

 
Upcoming Events
 

December 5 BOE Meeting at KPS – 6:30 PM
December 10 Annual CHS Kids’ Day – 12PM – 3PM CHS High School
December 23-January 1 Holiday Recess

 
Helpful Information

  • In the interest of promoting digital safety, please visit this link BeAppSavvy.  This is just a reminder that this resource is out there, and it promotes parents’ knowledge and digital safety for our students.
  • The district has implemented the Anonymous Alerts system.  Students or parents in the school community can anonymously submit any suspicious activity, bullying or other student related issues to a school administrator(s).  
  • Our District Calendar at a Glance provides information on planned school recesses, early dismissals, report card conferences and calendar changes due to snow days. This important resource should be kept handy throughout the year! See the Board-approved calendar at a glance for the 2023-24 school year.
  • To place money on your child’s cafeteria account, please visit the Myschoolbucks page.
  • Morning Drop-off – Please remember, drop off begins at 8:45 AM.  Please don’t arrive early to avoid congestion and backups in the driveway.  
  • Afternoon Pick-up – Begins at 3:15 in the cafeteria. PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR ID.  
  • KPS Website – Please monitor the KPS website for important information. You can access the website at Home Page - Kent Primary School (carmelschools.org). 
  • Please contact the PTO at kpsptopresident@gmail.com to be added to their mailing list.  
  • Please review our procedures for volunteers and visitors posted in the Quick Links section of the KPS Homepage: Volunteer Policy Clarification
  • Please review our attendance policy clarification posted in the Quick Links section of the KPS Home Page Attendance Policy Clarification

I hope you have an amazing week.

Sincerely,
Dan Brown

Students of the Week:

Check out our Superstar Students of the Week - for the week ending 12/01/23!  We are so proud of these children for being SAFE, RESPECTFUL and RESPONSIBLE.  Keep up the great work!  

   

Latest KPS Headlines

  • Wampum Bracelets at Kent Primary School

    In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, Kent Primary School art teacher Sarah Bell had her students work on projects inspired by Native American arts and crafts. Her fourth graders made beautiful sand paintings and her third grade students created beaded bracelets inspired by wampum belts.  It was all part of Native American Heritage Month. 

    "Wampum belts were gifted from one tribe to another to represent a treaty between two nations," Ms. Bell said. "It's a nice Thanksgiving message about working together.”   

    The students in Alison Spunt and Julie Ann Burton's third grade class helped each other out with the beading when they came to the art class. Beading on a small string loom was not easy.  

    “I’m also working on improving the students’ manual dexterity,” Ms. Bell said. “This requires a lot of dexterity." 

    Third-grader Benjamin didn’t mind.  

    "This is difficult, but I think I'm getting the hang of it," he said. 

    See more photos

    Kent Primary School News

  • Schools Host Senior Citizens for Thanksgiving Luncheon

    Senior citizens throughout the Carmel Central School District community were treated to an early Thanksgiving Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at schools across the district.

    “Our community really wraps their arms around our seniors,” said Alice Holzmann, the family and consumer science teacher at George Fischer Middle School. “In each of our schools the students serve the seniors, make crafts for them, sing and entertain them and just spend time talking with the seniors. It is a real treat for our seniors and for our students.”

    The Carmel Teachers Association sponsored the luncheon. Holzmann, who has organized the Thanksgiving Luncheon for 39 years, said the Putnam County Office of the Aging helped coordinate the event, and that the hard work of the schools’ cafeteria staff made the feast a huge success.

    Read more

    District News

  • Getting to "One Carmel"

    More than 30 parents, students, teachers and administrators came to the Unity in Our Community event at Carmel High School on Wednesday, Oct. 25, to discuss ways to end divisions within the schools and bring Carmel Central School District residents together as “One Carmel.”  

    “Clearly, we are in a place where we are ripe for change,” Interim Superintendent of Schools Joseph McGrath said. “Just coming together like this makes our community stronger. Now, it is up to us to convert ideas into a strategic action plan.”  

    Led by Matt Latimer, the lead conciliation specialist for the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Service, the event featured discussions about Carmel’s progress over the past few months.  

    Read More

    District News

  • New Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel Services

    Elizabeth A. Kennedy, Ed.D., who took over as Carmel Central School District’s new Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel Services in October, has hit the ground running.  

    Though she has only been in the district a few weeks, Dr. Kennedy has already attended SEPTO, or Special Ed PTO, meetings and started building relationships in the community.  

    “I am very excited to be joining this excellent school district community,” Dr. Kennedy said. “I know that the Carmel schools are dedicated to providing the best opportunities for children with special needs. I am also happy to have the chance to directly support our English as a New Language and Nursing Departments through this leadership role.”   

    Read more

    District News

  • Staff, Students and Community Work Together for Safety

    There are AED devices that can save a life placed strategically throughout the Carmel Schools so that if someone is suffering a heart attack in any of the buildings, there will be help close by.  

    But last year, after the cardiac incident with Damar Hamlin on the Buffalo Bills, Lisa Palmieri, a physical education teacher at Matthew Paterson Elementary noticed that the athletic field at the George Fischer Middle School was so far from the building that it might be difficult to get quick access to an AED, or automated external defibrillator, should there be a need.  

    “As a CPR/AED instructor I truly understand that every second counts so, I reached out to see how we could get an AED on the GFMS fields since the nearest ones were inside of the buildings,” Palmieri said.  

    She brought her concern to the district’s Safety Committee and John Fink, the Assistant Superintendent of Business who is chair of the committee, got to work to solve the problem.  

    Read more

    District News

  • Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Kent Primary School

    As the teacher read a book celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, the students in Amy Constantinides’s fourth grade class at Kent Primary School could not help smiling.  

    When Ecuador was mentioned, nine-year-old Lindsay’s eyes lit up. “I’m from Ecuador,” she said. 

    When Guatemala came up, Matthew raised his hand. 

    Then, when Mexico was mentioned, Monica called out.  

    “I’m from four different countries – El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala and the United States,” Monica said. “My aunt lives in El Salvador. My mom is from Mexico and my dad is from Guatemala. My family is not much for traveling now though. We stay right here at home.” 

    Read more

    Kent Primary School News

  • Translating Carmel's Many Languages

    From Polish to Albanian, Chinese to Spanish, the Carmel Schools are a melting pot of languages. Dozens of languages are spoken in the homes of students in the Carmel Central School District every day. 

    “It used to be hard for school districts to communicate with parents and caregivers who speak so many different languages,” said Interim School Superintendent Joe McGrath. “Thanks to technology, however, it’s now as easy as a push of a button.”   

    Read More

    District News

  • New Teacher Orientation

    Even before the 2023-24 school year started, Carmel’s newest teachers gathered for a new staff orientation at George Fischer Middle School.  

    During the summer, Interim Superintendent Joe McGrath hired 25 new teachers to fill openings in schools throughout the district.  

    “While students and parents were enjoying the summer, we were busy making sure our schools would be fully staffed when students returned,” Superintendent McGrath said.  “In a district like Carmel, we are very lucky. We have our choice of excellent teacher candidates.” 

    During the workshop the new teachers got classroom tips from their more-experienced mentors, heard from district administrators and learned about Carmel’s instructional technology, among many other subjects.   

    See more photos 

    District News
View More Posts

Announcements

  • Attendance Matters!

    Regular Attendance is a predictor of your child's successful reading proficiency after 3rd grade. 

    Check out Attendance Works for more information.

    Kent Primary School
View More Posts

Quick Links

Upcoming Events

  • Holiday Recess

    Schools & Administrative Office Closed

    Carmel Central School District

  • Holiday Recess

    Schools Closed

    Carmel Central School District

  • Holiday Recess

    Schools & Administrative Office Closed

    Carmel Central School District

  • Holiday Recess

    Schools & Administrative Offices Closed

    Carmel Central School District

  • KPS PTO Winter Event 6PM-8PM

    Kent Primary School
View Monthly Calendar

Kent Primary School Mission Statement

We are a community that is dedicated to developing and inspiring children to be their best selves in all aspects of their lives.

Who We Are:
We are a cohesive community of professionals with a strong sense of family that possess, celebrate and share our unique and individual strengths. We share a common focus to help, facilitate and encourage young minds to grow and fulfill their potential. As facilitators of learning, we utilize a multitude of resources to model and promote these desired outcomes. A strong cohesive community.

What We Do:
As an academic institution we contribute to the development of minds through inspiring children to create and pursue their own goals and objectives. We accomplish this by creating a welcoming, nurturing and trusting environment for all that empowers children to work alongside their peers, regardless of limitations, ultimately becoming independent lifelong learners.  Foster personal and academic growth.

Who We Do It For:
Our service is focused on the children who will develop a solid foundation of skills, knowledge and values, maximizing their individual potential along the way. This will in turn contribute to the perpetual improvement of society. Our children.

Why We Do It:
As we practice our deep commitment to learning, we accept the roles we fulfill because we understand that children require a safe, positive environment in which to develop into self-motivated and socially appropriate adults. We realize that fulfilling these responsibilities has an even greater benefit to all of us as a growing and ever evolving global community. To inspire children to be their best in all aspects of their lives